Rubber band holder

ABSTRACT

A rubber band holder having a storage loop with a left portion ending with an eye, a right portion of greater length passing through the eye with an end receiving a spherical head, the head being removable and the end retractable from the eye for loading of rubber bands.

Umted States Patent [191 [111 3,918,132

McGahee 5] Nov. 11, 1975 [54] RUBBER BAND HOLDER 2,657,568 11/1953 Morrell 24/237 2.685.193 8/1954 Marymont 24/237 [75] Inventor' gfig gMcGahee, 3,780,690 12/1973 McGahee 24/237 e ourne, a.

[73] Assignee: Loop-A-Line, lnc., Melbourne, Fla. Prmmr). R Gilliam [22] Fil d; M 11, 1974 Assistant E.\'aminerDoris L. Troutman 1 pp NO 450 120 Attorney, Agent, or FirmWa'rren E. Ray

[52] US. Cl. 24/241 SL; 24/236 AB A [51] Int. Cl. A44B 13/00 58 Field 61 Search 24/26, 150 A, 3 K, 237, A f f a sforage "3 24/236, 241 SL 241 R Fortzgn endmgflivtth (antgye, a 118?: portiojn of greater eng passing roug e eye W1 an en receiving a spherical head, the head being removable and the end [56] f retractable from the eye for loading of rubber bands.

1.194.809 8/1916 Bigney 24/3 K 6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Nov. 11, 1975 RUBBER BAND HOLDER BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides a rubber band holder, usually made with small gage wire having springy characteristics, including a storage loop culminating in an eye on the left side and an end on the right side passing through the eye. The end passes through the eye a sufficient distance to receive a spherical head and provide clearance for removal of the rubber bands one by one in a novel fashion. The spherical head is removable whereby the end may be retracted through the eye for the loading of rubber bands.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a rubber band holder having a novel method of removing the bands.

Another object of my invention is to provide such a rubber band holder with a novel removal feature which is relatively simple, reliable, easy and economical to make, and effective and satisfactory in use.

Other objects and advantages will clearly appear from a description of a preferred embodiment as shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 illustrates the rubber band holder with storage loop disengaged and the head removed;

FIG. 2 shows the rubber band holder assembled with a band in the initial position for removal; and

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2 wherein the rubber band is in a final position for removal.

Similar reference numerals are applied to similar elements throughout the drawing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 shows the rubber band holder in a disengaged position whereby the rubber bands 1 may be loaded onto the holder or storage loop 2, the latter being made of small gage wire with springy characteristics. The storage loop is provided with a left portion 3 which culminates in an eye 4 having an end 5 while the right portion 6 of the storage loop culminates in an end 7. The right portion 6 is somewhat longer than the left portion 3 so that the end 7 may project through the eye 4 a sufficient distance to receive the removable spherical-like head 8 of a suitable material as plastic, cork, or rubber in a hole 9 and to provide clearance for removal of rubber bands as later described. The rubber bands may be loaded onto the storage loop 2 over the end 7 or over the eye 4. The rubber bands may also be loaded one by one using a reverse procedure of removal as will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

In FIG. 2, after loading rubber bands 1, inserting the end 7 through the eye 4, and placing the head 8 on end 7 by press fitting in the hole 9, the rubber bands are removed one by one as desired. A rubber band I is moved along the right portion 6 of the storage loop 2, and up through the eye 4 as shown in FIG. 2. With further movement the rubber band will be in the position shown in FIG. 3, and can then be removed over the head 8. While the holder could be placed in the condition shown in FIG. 1 so that the bands could be removed, the latter method is intriguing to most users.

While for purposes of description I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent that changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A rubber band holder comprising a storage loop for rubber bands, one one of said storage loop having an eye, the other portion of said storage loop having a plain end, said plain end normally projecting through said eye but being retractable for the loading of rubber bands, a head having a hole therein, said head being selectably press fitted on said plain end and removable therefrom, said eye having a large diameter with respect to the diameter of said plain end to permit removal of said rubber bands through said eye.

2. A rubber band holder in accordance with claim 1 wherein said storage loop is made of wire having springy characteristics.

3. A rubber band holder is accordance with claim I wherein said head is made of a soft resilient material.

4. A rubber band holder in accordance with claim 1 wherein said head is spherical-like in geometrical configuration.

5. A rubber band holder in accordance with claim 1 wherein said other portion of said storage loop having a plain end projects through said eye a sufficient distance to provide clearance between said eye and said head to premit removal of said rubber bands one by one.

6. A rubber band holder in accordance with claim 1 wherein said rubber bands are removed by moving individual bands upward along said other portion of said storage loop having a plain end, through said eye, and

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Q Patent No-3.918 132 Dated November 11, 1975 It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, line 22 "one one" should read one end Column 2, line 49 --said should be inserted before "head".

Signed and Sealed this tenth Day of February 1976 Q [SEAL] Arrest:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Altesling Officer Commissioner uj'PatenIs and Trademarks UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,918 132 Dated November 11, 1975 lnv Welbourne D. McGahee It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, line 22 "one one" should read one end Column 2, line 49 --said should be inserted before "head".

Signed and Scaled this tenth Day Of February 1976 said A ttes t:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer Commissioner ujlarents and Trademarks 

1. A rubber band holder comprising a storage loop for rubber bands, one one of said storage loop having an eye, the other portion of said storage loop having a plain end, said plain end normally projecting through said eye but being retractable for the loading of rubber bands, a head having a hole therein, said head being selectably press fitted on said plain end and removable therefrom, said eye having a large diameter with respect to the diameter of said plain end to permit removal of said rubber bands through said eye.
 2. A rubber band holder in accordance with claim 1 wherein said storage loop is made of wire having springy characteristics.
 3. A rubber band holder is accordance with claim 1 wherein said head is made of a soft resilient material.
 4. A rubber band holder in accordance with claim 1 wherein said head is spherical-like in geometrical configuration.
 5. A rubber band holder in accordance with claim 1 wherein said other portion of said storage loop having a plain end projects through said eye a sufficient distance to provide clearance between said eye and said head to premit removal of said rubber bands one by one.
 6. A rubber band holder in accordance with claim 1 wherein said rubber bands are removed by moving individual bands upward along said other portion of said storage loop having a plain end, through said eye, and over the head. 